The new, sixth edition of a report from the Breast Cancer Fund, “State of the Evidence: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment,” catalogs the growing evidence linking breast cancer to, among other factors, synthetic hormones in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and meat; pesticides in food; solvents in household cleaning products; BPA in food containers; flame retardants in furniture; and radiation from medical treatments.

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Children are exposed daily to toxic chemicals that their developing bodies are ill-equipped to manage. Little is known about the health effects of most chemicals in the environment, and even less is known about children’s unique susceptibility to them.

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The 2008 Teach-In of MOFGA’s Public Policy Committee, held at the Common Ground Country Fair, covered ways to protect children’s health, from the womb through high school.

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Russell Libby, MOFGA’s executive director, was among 13 Maine citizens tested last year for 71 industrial chemicals. The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine, of which MOFGA is an active member, conducted the study, and in June released Body of Evidence: A Study of Pollution in Maine People.

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In June, Governor John Baldacci, after almost unanimous support in the Maine Legislature, signed into law a bill to phase out the toxic fire retardant Deca. This was an historic occasion for children’s environmental health and a testament to hard work and strong political leadership.

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The Environmental Working Group analyzed samples of canned fruit, vegetables, soda and baby formula sold in U.S. supermarkets and found that more than 50% were tainted with a chemical linked to birth defects, ADHD and cancer.

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The European Union took historic action in December 2006 by adopting REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals) – the world’s toughest policy for dealing with dangerous chemicals.

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Governor John Baldacci signed an Executive Order on Feb. 22 to promote safer chemicals in consumer products and services. The Order commits the state government to phase out its use of long-lasting toxic chemicals while informing the public about safer alternatives to those chemicals.

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“Our Children at Risk” is a 30-minute documentary video about the latest scientific research linking environmental toxins to children’s health problems.

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When my parents were young hippies, their rallying cry was: “The Personal is the Political!” This concept has become innate to progressive thinking: Almost any environmental pamphlet ends with a bulleted list titled “What You Can Do at Home.” However, the individualist approach to instigating change seems to be on its way out.

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More than 275 participants gathered at the University of New England in Biddeford on October 24 for the largest interdisciplinary gathering focused on environmental health ever held in Maine. Organized by UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine, Physicians for Social Responsibility/ Maine, and the newly organized Environmental Health Strategy Center (www.preventharm.org), the conference was cosponsored by a number of groups, including MOFGA, that have long been active in the toxics arena.

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On November 16, Colby College hosted the Toxics Action Center’s (TAC) 2002 conference, the 25th conference the organization has offered in New England in the past 15 years. Over 70 people, including private citizens, representatives of local, state and national environmental action groups, and students from the college’s Environmental Studies program, were present for the welcoming address from TAC’s director, Matthew Wilson.

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Cumulative effects of prolonged exposure to diesel exhaust concern public health officials who deal regularly with farm workers. The advent of high tractor cabs has reduced exhaust inhalation for many operators, but thousands of others regularly breathe in contaminants spewing directly from mufflers.

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